Well it “seems” that Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy has had quite a bit to say about the new concealed carry law that just recently went into effect in his state. Angry over Illinois joining the other 49 states in the Union to authorize some level of concealed carry, McCarthy went on the record during an interview with WVON AM 1690, with a thinly veiled threat to all carriers;

“You put more guns on the street expect more shootings,” McCarthy said. “I don’t care if they’re licensed legal firearms, people who are not highly trained… putting guns in their hands is a recipe for disaster. So I’ll train our officers that there is a concealed carry law, but when somebody turns with a firearm in their hand the officer does not have an obligation to wait to get shot to return fire and we’re going to have tragedies as a result of that. I’m telling you right up front.”

This man doesn’t just seem to think it will happen, it is almost as if he is looking forward to it happening. Some type of challenge for him to prove he’s right. He believes so strongly in his words that he had no problem making it a public statement, although many of the sites that had the actual radio show transcripts have mysteriously lost that particular interview (but I’ll keep looking until I find it).

He continues by saying that his “men” will have to receive extra training to handle these situations, because they’ve accidentally shot civilians before, and this will make that scenario even more prevalent.

“You say concealed carry I say Trayvon Martin. Police officers make mistakes all the time,” McCarthy said. “We spend six months in the police academy, six months of field training and ongoing training on a regular basis and the fact is once in a while we’re going to shoot someone with a cellphone; we’re going to shoot somebody with a flashlight and none of that is okay. But now you take John Q. Civilian, you give them six weeks or 10 weeks of training and you say ‘have at it?’ The fact is more guns are not the solution to the firearm gun violence problem in this country. Less guns and reasonable gun laws are. And just because it’s 49 states to one doesn’t mean the state of Illinois is wrong on that one.”

He truly believes that only the police are responsible enough to carry handguns, even though statistical facts beg to differ with his opinions, with at least one study proving that LEOs are five times more likely to shoot the wrong person than a concealed carrier.

McCarthy seems to forget that even though the average concealed carrier receives much less training than a police officer, those civilians are not training to be law enforcement, and do not “need” as much training. They do not need to know procedures and law. They do not need to know how to operate a radio or remember city ordinances. They just need to know the proper, responsible way to carry and effectively use their weapon. In fact, the average concealed carrier has much more range time than the ‘average” police officer, who may only fire his weapon once a year during the hour-long annual qualification.

I have to say it is such a ridiculous statement for a law enforcement official to make, but looking at the way he has handled his business in the City of Chicago, with over 250 murdered citizens this year, so far, it’s obvious that the citizens of the “windy city” are too busy attending funerals to notice his inane dribblings.

The man also went on a local Windy City Sunday morning talk show on the radio station WLSAM, and stated that special interests that lobby politicians to influence their opinion on gun control are the real problem.

“If there was a special interest influencing police work, I believe that would be called corruption,” McCarthy said. “So, if it has to do with donating money, versus a popular vote, I think we have a bigger problem in this country and someone has to wake up to that.”

Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson had this to say about that; “Garry McCarthy’s understanding of our Constitution barely qualifies him as a meter maid, never mind the chief of the nation’s third largest police department,”

McCarthy backs banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, requiring background checks for anyone who buys a gun, mandatory reporting of the sale, transfer, loss or theft of a gun and mandatory minimum prison sentences for people convicted of illegally possessing a gun.

Quite frankly, these types of people need to find a rock to crawl under, because when the “true Americans” get done with them, there will be NO place to hide and they will not be welcome anywhere within our borders.

Patrick James has worked as a firefighter/EMT for several services throughout the years, as well as a custom metal fabricator, certified personal trainer and chef.

Growing up in the rural suburbs of Detroit, it was during his frequent trips to Northern Michigan where he learned of his love for hunting and fishing. Spending several of his adult years in upstate South Carolina, his love of extreme sports took root in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains as he learned to rock climb and kayak.

“Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and vanish into air.” ~ John Quincy Adams

About the Author

Patrick James has worked as a firefighter/EMT for several services throughout the years, as well as a custom metal fabricator, certified personal trainer and chef.
Growing up in the rural suburbs of Detroit, it was during his frequent trips to Northern Michigan where he learned of his love for hunting and fishing. Spending several of his adult years in upstate South Carolina, his love of extreme sports took root in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains as he learned to rock climb and kayak.
"Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and vanish into air." ~ John Quincy Adams

Super. Chicago has black detention facilities for “special suspects” where no Legal Counsel is allowed, The have a HUGE problem in that no one follows their gun control laws, and now the Police Chief has said he is going to tell his Cops to shoot legal gun carriers.

His first statement is enough to classify this “top cop” as an idiot. If someone turns a cop with a gun in his hand, it’s hardly conceal carry anymore. What’s this guy afraid of? Maybe he doesn’t know the law allowing “Civil Disobedience”. Maybe some of the crooked cops will experience opposition to their unlawful orders.

My cousin just passed his police firearm qualification on a tactical course. I asked him if he’d ever run a tactical course when he was off duty, and he said only for his annual qualification testing. I know civilians who run a tactical course every weekend.

The concealed permit owner who turns with a firearm in his hand would be showing he wasn’t trained very well. I’m a trainer for a state corrections department, and we always train our officers NEVER to turn with a weapon drawn. Too easy to shoot each other that way…or one of us! If a police officer tells someone to put the weapon down, THAT’S the thing to do, not turn around with it.

You’re an idiot because we already proved those methods wrong and the effect is the recent acts of violence. More people are being saved with more guns out there. You shooting civilians whether concealed carriers or not is illegal and the concealed carriers will act in kind when getting a gun pointed at them from either a civilian or officer to protect themselves and others lives. You are only continuing the violence and the racist stigma people are relating to it. It’s time for change in our government, federally and locally, as well as a complete rebuild of all local, county, and state law enforcement agencies.

i have several friends on the Cpd , some of which i was their go to for the investigations before they were hired, they have all said the same thing to me …chicagos police academy and firearms training is a joke … this is also echoed by several state and county agencies out there … i quote ” it was like we were back in high school , out of an 11 hour day we goofed around in a classroom teasing and joking with each other for at least 5 hours throughout the day on a regular basis …its the biggest joke that we get to be cops after this training….i expected much more ” The federal guys i know all say …go immediately to “this training school ” after the academy if you want to really learn to survive in a a possible shoot out …. Again speaking on the utter lack of quality training from the CPD ….So where the hell does Garry “Chief Clancy Wiggum” McCarthy get off with this attitude…
This guy is a joke now , he started strong in NYC but then fell flat on his face and now he is making a bigger joke of himself every time he opens his mouth in front of a mic….Even his own officers think hes a fool.
i also can attest to the fact that none of the recent grads i know were taught anything about the concealed carry laws in any amount in the academy nor on station with the exception of being told not to apply for a permit or if you have one it is invalidated do to their new jobs and anyone who they get with a permit needs to be handled like a perp … i know anyone with real training would never turn with a gun pointed towards police etc but come on man he is making it sound like he Wants it to happen .

Well In My Opinion Here Is a Guy With A Brass Police Badge And White Shirt Making Statements That Coincide With The Obama Administration On Figuring Out How To Band All Weapon’s From Law Abiding Citizen’s. And Is Actually Looking Forward To Seeing Concealed Citizen’s Fucking Up By Having Them Have A Gun In Their Hand’s And Turning Around With A Weapon Facing A Police Officer. Every Gun Permit Holder Is NOT !! Going To Be That Stupid. Now A Criminal, That’s Different. But The State Law Is A State Law. The State Of Illinois Has Passed A Concealed Carry Law. And This Chief Has To Abide By That Law. WEATHER HE LIKES IT OR NOT !! That’s My Opinion. From A Concealed Carry Holder In The State Of Michigan. And Law Enforcement Officer Inspector Retired.

“Do not “need” as much training. They do not need to know procedures and law. They do not need to know how to operate a radio or remember city ordinances. They just need to know the proper, responsible way to carry and effectively use their weapon. In fact, the average concealed carrier has much more range time than the ‘average” police officer, who may only fire his weapon once a year during the hour-long annual qualification.” As it may be that we get more trigger time in but we also need to know the law, the ordinances & not just in the city but the county & State as well. We have laws, bylaws & so much more to where our hands are almost completely tied. But the fact of the matter is “knowledge is power” & just as powerful as any gun in this world. If people like this still think that owning a gun is bad & only adds to the problem then let them. But the battle for private ownership will continue as we keep pressing on the PC police & refuse to tow the party line in banning all firearms. This is pointless guns can be used as tools or weapons, depending on the situation, I like to think of them as more tools of many trades. But people really only want to look at the bad side when people kill others & ignore the reasons why. Statistics is they really care about & even those get fudged in order to “help” the cause. Sad it really is.

So I guess those of us who served in the Military aren’t qualified to carry a Gun in his eyes as well… I served 8 years 6 in the Marine Corps and 2 in the Army I was a Primary Marksmanship Instructor I have more knowledge of firearms and a lot more range time then he will ever amass in his Lifetime..

While I am with you on the ignorance and stupidity of this idiot’s pronouncements, your headline is misleading and inappropriate.

He said:
}}} So I’ll train our officers that there is a concealed carry law, but when somebody turns with a firearm in their hand the officer does not have an obligation to wait to get shot to return fire and we’re going to have tragedies as a result of that.

So, if someone turns at a cop with a gun in his hand, the cop may choose to shoot first.

OK. Easily solved. You shouldn’t be pointing a gun at a cop even if you have a CC license. You generally shouldn’t be pointing a gun at a cop at all.

Yeah, I’m sure accidents will happen, when someone has protected themselves with a gun and a cop startles them from behind or something.

But that’s what he’s saying, he’s not claiming it’s “open season” on CCs… which is what your headline suggests.

This top cop should not hold the position that he does. He is giving his officers the unwritten OK to shoot anyone the think is carrying a,concealed firearm. Six months training in the academy? Does it take that long to get your cops to understand the law? It is o wonder the windy city is so screwed up. Many concealed carry holder have more than six months training in weapons, legally. Think about military vets and hunters in the Chicago area. They most likely have more experience on when and how to use a weapon, in particular, deadly force than that so called top cop. He should resign or step down and be sent to work in the property room where he won’t hurt someone or himself.

Time to retire or better yet recall this ignorant dinosaur.Facts? Don’t confuse him him with those.We won’t go after gangs cause they may hurt us but law abiding citizens exercising their RIGHTS??? well…we can’t have that because they will stop crime and murder ,then our police union will have cutbacks and gangbangers and carjackers and killers will leave Chicago and people will be happy and live longer and we just can’t have that.And I will not,I mean WE ,the police will not FEEL important because the public will be able to carry and our power over the public will go away.The world is flat and we need to leave it that way!

I seem to recall that there have already been several instances of permit holders defending themselves and others in Chicago, though the police have so far avoided shooting any. In fact, just recently an Uber driver prevented a mass shooting using his firearm for which he had a permit. Of course, in a fit of “common sense”, Uber has now prohibited its drivers from carrying.

The average cop gets 2 hours of firearms training and only shoots 15 rounds a year with his handgun. the average Legal gun owner shoots 500 rounds a year and takes training almost once a year. I’m a Gunsmith and a firearms instructor and I have seen how LEO gun are treated when they come in for repairs, never cleaned, full of dirt rust pits and most of them can’t tell the difference between a 1911 or a Glock. Out of every ever cop shooting the average of 12 civilians are hurt during an exchange of Gunfire, a civilian it’s around 3.

WOW, I hope he has his house homesteaded. This is why the Police field is getting to be a job no one wants , with leaders like this who make poor decisions and don’t think before they speak. His Gun control laws are really helping out the area where his department patrols 250+ homicides in a place that is firearm restricted?? He should look up Professor Gary Kleck’s numerous studies on gun violence it would educate him MAYBE. I fear this is just some Politician wearing a Police Uniform and not someone who does the job.